The 1991 song REM wrote to hit back at The Police. It’s now been streamed 2,200,000,000 times

R.E.M. drew inspiration from The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” when writing “Losing My Religion”, but Michael Stipe said he turned its unsettling mood towards vulnerability. The song became the lead single from 1991’s *Out of Time* and a defining track for the band, helping bring their alternative rock sound to a wider audience.

Stipe described creating a character who calls out to someone who may not even know they exist. He said an early version placed that character in a kitchen while their love interest danced; changing the setting helped make the lyrics open to broader interpretations, including the pressure of being watched as a performer. The article’s headline says the track has been streamed 2.2 billion times.